Pharmacy Students' Knowledge Regarding Medical Marijuana
Pharmacy Students' Knowledge Regarding Medical Marijuana
Pharmacy students have a knowledge gap about medical uses and adverse effects of medical marijuana, which may reflect a lack of formal education in their pharmacy curriculum. If the use of marijuana shifts from an illegal substance to a prescribed medicinal agent, pharmacy students and other health care professionals will need education and training to competently address its safe and effective use. Pharmacy student interns will need to learn to ask about medical marijuana on medication reconciliations, learn how to address the issue of patient use while in a hospital setting, advise patients on the risks and accidental exposure of marijuana in the pediatric population, and inform patients about health risks and drug interactions associated with the substance. Pharmacy students also need to understand the lack of medical marijuana standardization with respect to potency and methods of consumption, which make it difficult to give advice on dosage and efficacy. Most importantly, pharmacy students need to understand state laws with respect to recommending the use of medical marijuana for any condition. Pharmacy schools need to evaluate the adequacy of medical marijuana education in their courses and consider revising curriculum accordingly.
Conclusion
Pharmacy students have a knowledge gap about medical uses and adverse effects of medical marijuana, which may reflect a lack of formal education in their pharmacy curriculum. If the use of marijuana shifts from an illegal substance to a prescribed medicinal agent, pharmacy students and other health care professionals will need education and training to competently address its safe and effective use. Pharmacy student interns will need to learn to ask about medical marijuana on medication reconciliations, learn how to address the issue of patient use while in a hospital setting, advise patients on the risks and accidental exposure of marijuana in the pediatric population, and inform patients about health risks and drug interactions associated with the substance. Pharmacy students also need to understand the lack of medical marijuana standardization with respect to potency and methods of consumption, which make it difficult to give advice on dosage and efficacy. Most importantly, pharmacy students need to understand state laws with respect to recommending the use of medical marijuana for any condition. Pharmacy schools need to evaluate the adequacy of medical marijuana education in their courses and consider revising curriculum accordingly.
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